Combination lock



April 26, 1932. H. G. DlsBRow COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 21, 1930 INVENTOR lravu llsrow' ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 26, 1932 .UNTD STATES Hmm G. msBRoW, or HnMrsTnAn, NEW YORK COMBINATION Loox Y Application ledMay 21, 1930. Serial No. 454,411.

This invention relates to combination locks.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved shield and operator assembly for combination locks.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an operating means for combination locks which will prevent detection by an observer of the combination used in opening the lock.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an operator Jfor combination locks which will permit ease and accuracy of operation and which will materially assist the observer to properly determine the num ber of complete revolutions through which the tumblers of the lock have been moved.

Among the more general objects of the present invention is to provide a novel, simple and improved construction for operating a combination lock and for preventing observations of the combination of the lock.

Numerous other objects of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification when'taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Y,

Figure 1 is a front elevation ofone form of the present invention as applied to a common type of combination lock;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. V1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the reading aperture of the cover plate and the dial thereunder;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and j v Fig. 5 is a vertical section parallel to the face of the lock as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention is shown in combination with a conventional type of combination lock as used for instance in safe boxes, vaults, or the like. The lock is mounted on a door panel 10, the lock assembly being generally indicated as at 11 in Fig. 2 and being housed within a conventional lock casing 12. For controlling the lock, a shaft 13 is provided which extends through an aperture in the panel 10. On the front of the panel, a base plate 14 is provided which is recessed to removably receive a guiding race for 4an indicia-bearing dial 1G which dial is secured with the shaft 13 for rotation therewith. In common practice, the race 15 bears an arrow or other mark for registration with one of the numerals of the dial to indicate that the revolutions of the lock in one direction should be reversed at that point to further move the tumblers to release'the lock. In the present instance the indicia of the race 15 may be done away with and equivalent indicia may be carried by the shield as will be hereinafter explained.

Associated with the plate 14 by connection beyond the periphery of the race 15, a dishshaped shield 17 is provided. The shield 17 includes an aperture 18 through which the indicia of the dial 16 may be read. The aperture of the shield is over that portion of the race which would normally bear the setting arrow or the like and the aperture is provided with an equivalent setting mark, as indicated at 19 in Fig. 3. The shield 17 is further provided with a large central aperture which constitutes a bearing for the lockoperating assembly.

For operating the shaft 13, the usual knob of the dial 16 is replaced by a toothed kgear member 20, which is attached to the center of the dial for rotation therewith by suitable screws as indicated at 21. Journaledv within the central aperture of the shield 17 and freely rotatable therein with respect thereto, a dial operating assembly is provided which includes a base member 22, one end of which extends outwardly as at 23, to provide a shield member for the aperture 18 of the shield 17. The shield member 23 lies in a slightly spaced plane with respect to the base 22, whereby observation of the numbers on the dial during the time that the shield 23 is before the aperture 18, may be made by close inspection but it cannot be read directly in front of the dial or without close proximity ot the observer to the dial shield.

The base 22 is mounted within the central aperture of the plate 17 by a connecting and journaling piece 24, the inner face of which is flanged to co-operate with the body to securely lock the body in assembled position as shown.

For engagement with the teeth 25 of the member 20, an arm 26 is provided, which is pivot/ed, as at 27, between ears 28 stamped upwardly from the base 22 on either side of the shield member 23. The arm 26 carries on its inner face a member v29, which bears inwardly extending tooth members 30 -engageable by inward pressure of the Yarm 26 with the teeth 25 ofthe gear member. The arm 26 further extends downwardly and is provided at its extremity with an operating l" `die 31. Associated with thehandle, a ing tongue 32 is provided which extends inwardlyto bear against the body 22, thus to normally urge the handle outwardly whereby the teeth 25 will not normally engage with the teeth 30. rl`he body adjacent the free end of the handle is also provided with a bracket 33 which guides thehandle and limits the outward movement thereof.

It will be noted that this construction provides an alignment of the handle with the shield member 23 so that when the handle is in `downward position the shield member will cover the aperture 18.

In the operation of the device, it will be .seen that the normal. position of the handle is vertical as illustrated in F 1., and the teeth 30 are not engaged with the teeth y25 due to the outward pressure of the spring tongue 32. When the lock is to be operated, the arm 26 is pivotally moved inward by pressure on the handle 31, and when the handle isrotated the inward movementV of the arm 26 engages the teeth30 with the teeth whereby rotation of the arm will cause corresponding rotation ofthe dial and shaft 13. Ifthe combination of the lock-requires turning clockwise four times, to the numeral 60, it will be seen that the observer may move the dial until the numeral 60 appears through the aperture 18 vand in alignment with the arrow 19'. The arm 26 is then allowed to move outwardly under the influence of the spring tongue 32 and is rotated without engagement with the gear 20,. to bring the handle into vertical position whereby the shield 23 will cover the aperture 18. The handle may then be rotated in clockwise direction four times as called for by the combination withoutrcounting the numerals of the dial as they' pass under the aperture. lt will be .seen that this operation provides for the possibility of speedy rotation of the dial whereby the number at which the dial is stopped and the exact manipulations of the lock, will not be detected by an observer. lt will also be seen that at the end of the fourth revolution the shield 23 will move before the dial at the same time that the .numeral 60 is becomingy aligned withthe arrow 19. The observer may note the position of the numeral 60 by looking downward between the shield 23 and the main .shield 17. It wilbe seen, however, that the position for such observation is restricted to observation by one person only and thus unauthorized detection of the combination used cannot be made.

From the foregoing` it will be seen that the Voperations of the locl through the various.manipulations called for by its combination are simply made. The handle is freely rotatable when the knob is in outward posi tion with respect to the dial and upon inward movement of the linob is operable to turn the dial. The dial moves in an arc parallel to the arc in which the aperture 18 is located, ra-ndin vuse will register with the aperture at the .same time that the number to which the dial has been. turned registers with the indicia of the casing.

lt will be understood that the present invention is not confined. to the specific structural details herein enumerated, and that numerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the .spirit or scope of the invention as outlinedin the appended claims.

lNhat is claimed is: 1. The combination with a combination Vlock includ-ing` a number-bearing dial, of a stationary shield for said dial having an aperture thro-ugh which the numbers on said dial may be read, a shield member adapted to be moved over said aperture upon each actuation of said dial and means releasably connecting said shield member with said dial for rotation therewith when the same is actuated, alsoHpermittin-g rotation independently thereof.

2. The combination with a combination loclrincludi-n-g a immber-bearing dial, of a shield for said dial having an aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read, an operatingassembly for said dial extending through saidshi-el-d and a shield member actuated 'by' said assembly adapted to be moved over said aperture upon each actuation of said dial?.

8. The combi-nation with combination lock including a number-bearingdial, of a shieldfor said dial! having' anl aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read', and an operating assembly for said dial extend-ing through'said shield. said operating assembly including' means rotatably mounted within said shield and selectively engageable with said dialy on each actuation thereof for rotating said dial therewith.

VLl'. The' combination with a combination lock, including a number-bearing dial, of' a shield for said dial having an aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read; andy anoperating' assembly for said dial'` extending Vthrough said shield, said' operating assembly' including means rotatably mounted withinsaid shieldv and selectively engageable with said dial on each actuation thereof for rotating said dial therewith, said means including a pivoted arm provided with a toothed member carried by a body journaled within a central aperture of said shield and a gear rigidly secured to said dial and positioned to mesh with said toothed member when said arm is in a given position, whereby when said arm is in said given'position, said dial will be rotated when said arm is rotated.

5. The combination with a combination lock including a number-bearing dial, of a shield for said dial having an aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read, and an operating assembly for said dial extending through said shield, said operating assembly including means rotatably mounted within said shield and selectively engageable with said dial for rotating said dial therewith, said means including a pivoted arm carried by a body journaled within a central aperture of said shield, said arm having a tooth extending therefrom, said dial including a toothed central knob arranged externally of said shield positioned to be en gaged with said tooth when in one position whereby rotation of said arm while said tooth is meshing with said toothed knob will rotate said dial. v

6. The combination with a combiantion lock including a number-bearing dial, of a shield for said dial having an aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read, and an operating assembly for said dial extending through said shield, said operating assembly including means rotatably mounted within said shield and selectively engageable with said dial for rotating said dial therewith, said means including a pivoted arm carried by a body journaled within a central aperture of said shield, said dial including a toothed central knob arranged externally of said shield for engagement with said arm whereby rotation of said arm will rotate said dial therewith, said arm includ ing a toothed portion for engagement with the teeth of said knob.

'l'. The combination with a combination lock including a number-bearing dial, of a shield for said dial having an aperture through which the numbers on said dial may be read, an operating assembly for said dial extending through said shield, said operatingV assembly including'means rotatably mounted within said shield and selectively engage able with said dial for rotating said dial therewith, said means including a pivoted arm carried by a body journaled within a centrai aperture of said shield, said dial includ ing a toothed central knob arranged externally of said shield for engagement with said arm whereby rotation of said arm will rotate said dial therewith, said arm including a toothed portion for engagement with the t teeth of said knob, and resilient means for normally urgingsaid arm in outward pivoted position wherebythe teeth of said arm will be normally free from the teeth or said knob.

8. The `combination with a combination lock including a number-bearing dial, of a with, said means including a pivoted arm carried by a body journaled within a central aperture of said shield, said dial including a A toothed central knob arranged externally of said shield for engagement with said arm whereby rotation of said arm will rotate said dial therewith, said arm including a toothed portion for engagement with the teeth of said knob, said body including ,af shield member movable therewith in an arcuate path for registration with the aperture of said shield, and resilient means for normally urging said arm in outward pivoted position whereby the teeth of said arm will be normally free from the teeth of said knob.

9. In a combination lock, a dial, an apertured shield for said dial, and a, shield member rotatable with said dial and independent thereof, said shield member when rotated independently of said dial being adapted to be brought into registration with the aperture of said shield.

10. In a combination lock, a dial, an apertnred shield for said dial, a shield member connectable and disconnectable with said dial, and means formoving said shield member independently of said dial to a position over said aperture.

1l. ln a. combination lock, a dial, an apertured shield for said dial, means for connecting said shield member with the dial so that the dial cannot rotate without rotating the shield member for registration with the aperture of said shield, and means for moving said shield member independent of said dial, said means including a pivoted arm carried by said shield member.

l2. ln a combination lock, a dial, an apertured shield for said dial, a shield member rotatable with said dial for registration with the aperture of said shield, and means for moving said shield member with respect to said dial, said means including a pivoted arm carried by said shield member, said arm including a portion engageable with said dial upon pivotal movement of the arm to rotate simultaneously said shield, arm and dial.

13. In a combination lock, a dial, an apertured shield for said dial, a shield member rotatable with said dial for registration with the aperture of said shield, and means for moving said shield member with respect to said dial, said means including a pivoted arm carried by said shield men1ber,- said arminf eluding a portion engagieabl'e with said dial upon pivotal movement of the arm GQ rotate simultaneously said Shield, arm and dial, said arm being normally free for rotation with said shield with respect to said dial. y

14. In a. Combination lock', adial2 an apertured shield for Vsaid dial,v faisliield member rotata-ble `with Said dial for Y'regietrationl with the aperture of said shield, and meansyfor moving` said `shield member with respect to said dial, Said means including a pivoted arm Cil-ifed by Said shield I'nember7 Said arm including a portion engageable with said dial upon pivotal movement of the arm to rotate simultaneouslj,T said Shield, arm and dial, xsaid. arm being` normally free Or rotation with said shield with respect to said dial, said arm further including spring means,` for retaining said arm in outward pivotal position free from engagement With said dial;

HIRAM G. msBRoW. 

